You're a homeowner and determined your home's air conditioning needs fixing or needs to be replaced with a newer, more efficient system. You're all set to get moving. What's the optimal way to get a high quality HVAC contractor who will do a good job for a fair price? What could you look for in an air conditioning contractor to obtain this work? Cherry Creek

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An HVAC system is a large investment on your part. We're not just speaking in reference to the initial costs of purchasing and installing the equipment, but we're also referencing the amount of money you will spend on energy bills over the years. Statistics say that you will spend well over $2,000 this year on energy bills alone. Your HVAC system accounts for almost half of the energy your home consumes within that time period. Your home, no matter how old or new, is an energy hog. Whether you're choosing to upgrade your existing HVAC system or installing a new one in your new home, here are some tips you should adhere to in order to choose the proper-sized system that will ensure energy-efficiency.So what does one do to prevent your home from sucking up so much energy? First, understand that if your equipment is old, it's time to replace it. Equipment that is 10 years or older is extremely inefficient and should be replaced, preferably with an energy-efficient model (i.e. Energy Star qualified). When purchasing any type of HVAC equipment, it's smart to go with an energy-efficient model. It will save you a ton of money over the years. You're probably wondering, "So if I choose energy-efficient equipment, why does sizing matter?" It matters! Choosing the proper-sized equipment (i.e. proper heating/cooling output) directly affects your comfort, your HVAC system's efficiency and its maintenance and operating costs. You can see how important and underestimated this topic is. In fact, it has been estimated that over half of the HVAC industry does not size your HVAC systems properly."Oversizing" tends to be the biggest mistake that is made. When you oversize an HVAC system, it can affect a number of areas within the process. For example, the installation will be more expensive. Typically oversized systems tend to cost more to operate, break down often, run inefficiently and require more maintenance. Oversized air conditioners tend to shut off before they've had a chance to dehumidify the air properly. This results in a clammy environment that may be prone to mold. Oversized furnaces create uncomfortable temperature swings.When your HVAC technician attempts to size your system, they should not be reading a label or simple by-the-book standards. Instead, the calculation should be multi-variable and include factors that are unique to your situation. For example, what is the climate like in your area? How many windows do you have and what size are they? How much insulation is there and what type of insulation is it? How big is the house? Is the house two-story or one-story? How much outside are is sneaking in? How many occupants are there? There are two industry standards that should be used to help determine the proper size for your system. These are "Manual J" and "Manual D", created by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Manual J, also called "Residential Load Calculation", is primarily used to determine HVAC size calculations. A reputable HVAC company will tell you that they use Manual J to determine sizing. Manual D, also called "Residential Duct Design", is used to determine duct sizing. When looking for a company to help install your new HVAC system, always be sure to inquire whether or not they use Manual J and D in their sizing and installation process.

10 Tips To Help You Repair Your Furnace

A common complaint about heating and cooling systems is wide temperature differences between rooms and between stories in homes. Heating and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors often refer to correcting temperature differences between areas as balancing the system. An HVAC system that is properly sized and properly installed should require only minor adjustment to achieve a reasonable temperature balance. In practice, HVAC system sizing and installation errors are common and can make balancing difficult.There are several heating and cooling performance standards for HVAC systems. The International Residential Code (IRC) heating performance standard requires that the system maintain a temperature in the home of at least 68Ës F. The IRC has no performance standard for cooling. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) heating performance standard is 70Ës F. and the cooling standard is 78Ës F. or 15Ës F. below an outside air temperature of 95Ës F. The performance standard temperature is often measured near the center of the room and about five feet above the floor. States or cities may have different performance standards. The Arizona cooling performance standard is 78Ës F. or 30 degrees below the outside air temperature. These national and local standards usually apply to every room in the home. In cooling mode, for example, if the thermostat temperature is 78Ës F., the temperature in every room controlled by that thermostat should be at least 78Ës F. A one or two degree variance from the thermostat temperature is usually allowed.Balancing is affected by numerous factors that can change based on the time of day and the season of the year. Some factors that affect balancing include: room location (south and west facing rooms can be more difficult to cool), size, quality and location of windows and doors, room size and ceiling height, size and location of supply and return registers, thermostat location, and location of the air handler relative to the room (the air handler must push air further through ducts in unconditioned space).Because a balancing problem can have multiple causes, solving the problem can require multiple solutions. Here are some simple potential solutions for balancing problems. Confirm that all supply and return registers are open and unobstructed. Confirm that filters have been cleaned or changed per manufacturer's instructions. Confirm that ducts are sized and installed according to recommended standards. Confirm that insulation is installed properly and in the required amount. Install sun screens on south and west facing windows in high heat areas. Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides (sun in winter, shade in summer). Improve air flow in rooms with doors by providing a return air path if none exists. If these simple solutions do not produce satisfactory results, other solutions may be required. These solutions may include changing the supply and/or return duct configuration and adding zones that are separately controlled by their own thermostats.